A community united to wish a ‘remarkable and inspirational’ woman a very happy 100 birthday.

Dorothy Start of New Barnet, marked the milestone on September 17 with friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, some of whom had come from Australia.

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Barnet and Greater London, Martin Russell, presented a card to Ms Start from the Queen.

The oldest member of the congregation of St John’s United Reformed Church, Mrs Star still helps cook the Christian Aid lunches.

Ms Start received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for 70 years of service to voluntary work across Barnet.

Mrs Start said: "My advice to everyone is ‘seize the day’. I don’t mind being an advert for somebody who gets on with life.

"As well as going to church all my life, I’ve run Girl Guides, and I’ve done Scottish dancing for the past 60 years.

"I would recommend this to anyone who can do it. It’s good for your head. I think that’s why I’ve got a good memory. It’s also good for your bones."

It was only two years ago that she was featured in ‘Love Later Life’ an Age UK national fundraising campaign.

A founding member of the Inner Wheel Club in 1964, she was one many women to create friendships between wives of Rotarians, as her husband Edward Start was a Rotarian himself.

She has also hosted open gardens and coffee mornings, which raised up to £1,000 annually.

Her community work has varied from volunteering to support emergency services during World War II, to her 30 years of work with Women’s Institute.

Her birthday was filmed by Channel Four, who are working on a documentary on centenarians.

Mrs Start added: "I think you have to accept what you have and keep cheerful. The people who are the loneliest are the people who are always moaning and groaning about things and they don’t join any groups.

"As for young people, I think so long as you keep cheerful, they don’t mind. I’ve never felt any handicap being old and being with younger people and I’m with younger people all the time."

The Rev Julian Templeton, minister of St John’s Church in New Barnet, said Dorothy is a remarkable person and “an inspiration to us all”.